Free Web NovelChapter 128: Chapter 128: The Gathering Storm
"Senior Shen, even if you hadn’t said anything, we would’ve taken good care of her!"
Lin Yi smiled and nodded.
However, Shen Yuzhe’s brows were tightly furrowed.
He opened his mouth to speak several times but stopped, unable to get the words out.
Just then...
Shen Yuzhe’s phone rang. He quickly took it out and glanced at it.
His expression soured slightly. "Hello? I’ll be right down. Okay!"
After hanging up, he looked at Lin Yi again.
"I’m leaving Mengyi in your hands!"
With that, Shen Yuzhe hurried toward the elevator.
His figure vanished as the elevator doors closed.
Only then did Shen Mengyi run over with a smile.
"What did my brother say to you just now?"
"Hm? Nothing much. Just that he wanted us to help take care of you," Lin Yi replied with a smile.
"You guys, take care of me? You should worry about taking care of yourselves!"
"Come on, spar with me for a bit?"
"I feel like I’ve improved recently. Can you give me some pointers?"
Shen Mengyi said, blinking her lively eyes.
She smiled at Lin Yi.
But then he recalled the words her brother, Shen Yuzhe, had just said.
And that expression...
"Alright. The Martial Arts exam is coming up soon anyway. You really should be making a final push for 1-Star!"
Lin Yi smiled and nodded.
The two of them then walked toward the ring.
As they walked, Lin Yi, thinking Shen Mengyi wasn’t looking, glanced back at the elevator again.
’Even though Shen Yuzhe didn’t say anything specific, I think I’ve figured it out.’
’Tang Qinru not coming back all night.’
’The appearance of the ’Devourer’ beast from the Restricted Area Battlefield.’
’The police cars everywhere this morning, along with the Martial Arts Police Station and security officers.’
’All of it pointed to something big about to happen.’
’And what Lin Yu said a few days ago about the Blood Drop plan...’
’Even though I’m just a student.’
’I’m not qualified, and they wouldn’t let me participate in such a dangerous operation.’
’But putting all the pieces together, I can guess what’s going on.’
’The Martial Arts Alliance and the Demon Hunting Bureau are preparing to move against the Blood Drop Organization.’
’That must be why Shen Yuzhe was so worried.’
’He came here to tell me... his last words.’
...
「Noon.」
「The Hall’s Cafeteria.」
Lin Yi, Zhou Qi, Hu Quan, and Sun Tao
grabbed their food and sat together for lunch.
"You were followed last night?"
Hu Quan looked at Sun Tao in surprise.
That morning, Sun Tao couldn’t help but tell a few of the students he was close with about what happened last night.
He wanted to warn Hu Quan, Li Xuewen, and Zhou Qi.
They needed to be extra careful lately.
Things seemed calm on the surface, but a dangerous undercurrent was surging.
The families that had been massacred, and the dangerous scene he had experienced yesterday...
...all pointed to the situation being far more serious than before.
Sun Tao subconsciously glanced at Lin Yi, who was eating with his head down.
He nodded and said, "It wasn’t just yesterday. I’ve had that feeling for the past couple of days."
"It was just much stronger last night. Those things actually came to my house.
"Luckily, someone helped me deal with it. Otherwise... you’d only be seeing me on the news today!" Sun Tao said with a forced laugh.
He didn’t expose Lin Yi.
Without Lin Yi’s permission, he chose to keep it to himself.
Hu Quan, Li Xuewen, and Zhou Qi exchanged glances.
"The news keeps talking about those Blood Drop Believers lately. It must be those lunatics!"
"Everyone should be careful. Didn’t you see all the police cars and people from the Martial Arts Police Station outside today?"
"I get the feeling the Martial Arts Police Station is about to make a big move!"
"They’re a bunch of useless bums, just putting on a show. It’s probably the Demon Hunting Bureau getting ready to hunt them down!"
"Anyway, after training, everyone should just go straight home. Don’t linger outside, it’s too dangerous!"
The group discussed these matters, all with solemn expressions.
Lin Yi didn’t say a word the entire time.
Just as he and Zhou Qi were finishing their meal,
Coach Yang Yong walked over. "Lin Yi, Zhou Qi, come here for a moment!"
Hearing this, Lin Yi and Zhou Qi looked at each other.
They followed Yang Yong to his office.
"Coach Yang..."
Yang Yong glanced at the two of them.
He waved his hand. "You two, sit down. I have something to tell you."
The two nodded and sat on the sofa.
Yang Yong said with a heavy expression, "You’ve both heard about what’s been happening in Xinghai City recently."
"The Hall just issued a notice."
"For the safety of the students, the Hall is planning to suspend training."
"Of course, whether you continue to train or not is your own decision."
"However, I might not be able to come to the Hall for a while."
"If... and I’m just saying if... there are still students who want to keep training, I hope the two of you can lead them. After all, the Martial Arts exam is less than a month away."
"Some students will want to use the remaining time for some last-minute intensive training."
"It’s understandable that they want to raise their Cultivation Realm."
"Of course, if this is difficult for you, just tell me. I absolutely won’t force you."
At his words, Lin Yi and Zhou Qi looked at each other.
"Coach Yang, is the Hall involved in some kind of operation?"
Zhou Qi asked seriously.
He and Yang Yong usually had a good relationship.
After all, he was the first student at Yang Yong’s Martial Arts Arena to achieve the status of a disciple.
But as soon as he asked the question,
Yang Yong’s expression turned grave. "Don’t ask what you’re not supposed to ask!"
"Right now, you just need to answer me. Can you lead the classes for me for a while?"
"You don’t need to give any lectures, just help the students who show up with some pointers.
With your talent, that’ll be more than enough."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qi nodded. "Fine. I don’t have anything to do at home anyway. I’ll do it."
Then he looked at Lin Yi.
Lin Yi smiled. "Same here."
At that, a smile appeared on Yang Yong’s face.
"That’s settled then. Starting tomorrow, you’ll temporarily take over guiding them for me."
"The Hall has also adjusted the class schedule. It’ll be from nine in the morning to two in the afternoon."
"After lunch, take an hour’s break, and then you can pretty much change and leave."
Lin Yi and Zhou Qi both nodded.
Finally, Yang Yong’s expression grew solemn again.
His eyes became resolute as he said, "Promise me you’ll protect yourselves."
"Stay vigilant, day and night!"
The change in Yang Yong’s eyes
made both Lin Yi and Zhou Qi’s hearts tremble.
The two of them nodded in response.
"Alright, you can go rest now."
The next moment, Yang Yong waved his hand, dismissing Lin Yi and Zhou Qi.
Just as they stepped out of the office,
Sun Tao and Hu Quan hurried over to them.
"What did Coach Yang want with you two?"
"Don’t tell me he was giving you guys some private lessons?"
"I’m so jealous of you disciples. You get all the special treatment!"
Listening to their complaints,
Zhou Qi said with a bitter smile, "Special treatment, my ass. The Martial Arts Hall is suspending classes. But it’s voluntary—come if you want, or stay home and rest if you don’t."
"Suspending classes? What’s that about?"
"Is it related to the recent massacres?"
"Holy shit, even the Martial Arts Hall is scared?"
The group discussed this in a panic.
Lin Yi shook his head. "The winds foretell a coming storm. I’m afraid something big is about to happen."
"We’re not forcing you to come train. These are special circumstances, so you can choose to rest at home.
But if you insist on coming, then I guess you’ll have Zhou Qi and me giving you pointers."
"For real?"
"Is something big really going to happen?"
"They’re finally going to strike back against those Blood Drop lunatics!"
Sun Tao and the others all lost their smiles.
Every one of them grew serious.
This was no small matter; the very survival of the entire Old District was at stake.
To put it bluntly, if the Martial Arts Alliance and the Demon Hunting Bureau could completely wipe out the Blood Drop Believers,
the Old District would remain the Old District.
It could go back to the way it was.
If they could also manage to clear out all the demonic beasts,
life in the Old District could return to normal.
But if even the Demon Hunting Bureau and the Martial Arts Alliance couldn’t suppress them,
the Old District would become a living Hell, a hunting ground for those demonic beasts.
It would also become a sacrificial ground for the Blood Drop Believers...
It was a matter of life, death, and their future.
At this moment, no one could bring themselves to smile.
